Continuity in Change A Study of Historical Religious Monuments in the Malwa Region of Punjab

Abstract

newline Punjab is one of the smallest, but the most progressive state situated in the north-western part of India. It derives its name from two Persian words: Punj meaning five and ab meaning water . Punjab was the land of five rivers, namely, the Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum.1 newlineWhen the Aryans came to India during the Vedic Age it was known as Sapta Sindhva due to the seven rivers. The Persians took the name from the Aryans and called it hafta hindva. Sometime later, after the seven rivers, the Sarasvati had dried up, people began to exclude the Indus from the since it marked only the western boundary of the province and renamed it after the remaining five rivers as Pentopotamia or the Punj-aab, the land of five water.2 newline newlineThe typical quality of early Indian architecture lies in the expression of spiritual contents through its temple architecture. The temples were found everywhere varying from small villages to the metropolitan cities. The word temple is derived from the Latin word templum means a sacred precinct which is reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. Traditionally, the temple is a sacred structure and also an indicative of abode of god or gods. However, the temples are not only the abode of God and place of worship, but they are also the cradle of knowledge, art, architecture and culture. newline newlineThe architecture of the Hindu Temple has many types of styles whereas the basic nature of these temples is the same. The special feature is that it has an inner sanctum, a Garbhgriha or a Garbha Griha room, where the statue of any deity or god is placed in a simple bare cell. There are many other edifices around this room. To look out, the top of the abdominal top is decorated with a crown which is called Vimana in the south India. This building includes a Pradhakshina Patha, Mandapa, Antrala, Shikhara, Amalaka, Kalasha etc. newline